An open, randomized comparative study of a low-strength frusemide/amiloride combination and bumetanide/potassium chloride in the treatment of mild congestive cardiac failure.

In an open, randomized, parallel group study lasting 8 weeks, nine males and nine females with mild congestive cardiac failure were initially treated daily with 20 mg frusemide/2.5 mg amiloride or 0.5 mg bumetanide/573 mg potassium chloride. In two patients receiving the frusemide combination and in one receiving the bumetanide combination, the daily dose was doubled after 2 weeks' treatment because of inadequate control of symptoms. Mild congestive cardiac failure symptoms (raised jugular venous pressure, oedema and dyspnoea at rest and on effort) were controlled in 9/10 patients receiving frusemide/amiloride but two patients receiving bumetanide/potassium chloride still had mild oedema after 8 weeks. Both treatments were well tolerated overall and there were no clinically significant changes in plasma electrolytes, although one patient treated with frusemide/amiloride was withdrawn due to adverse events.

Treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis with flunisolide and terfenadine.

A study of ninety-nine hay fever sufferers was conducted to compare the effect of treatment with flunisolide nasal spray plus terfenadine tablets with that of terfenadine alone. The study was carried out over an 11-week period, which covered the pollen season between May and August. All patients received 60 mg terfenadine twice daily and one group, of forty-nine patients, also received 50 mcg flunisolide to each nostril twice daily. Clinical assessments of nasal and ocular symptoms were made at admission and following 3, 7 and 11 weeks' treatment. An over-all evaluation of treatment effect was performed at each follow-up visit and nasal examination was carried out. Patients also completed diary cards daily. Both treatments were effective in reducing symptom severity, in comparison with previous seasons, but the combination treatment gave consistently better symptom relief. Statistically significant differences were detected in favour of the combined treatments group for nasal symptoms. Eye symptoms were found to be relieved to a comparable degree by both treatments. Results from daily patient self-assessments were consistent with these findings. The over-all evaluations by both patients and doctors were significantly in favour of flunisolide plus terfenadine. In conclusion, treatment of hay fever with flunisolide in addition to terfenadine was significantly more effective than treatment with the antihistamine alone.